While the rest of the nation was busy filling out their brackets to select the next NCAA Division I men’s basketball champion, nursing students were embroiled in a selection process all their own.
If you’ve driven by the School of Health Sciences lately, you can’t help but notice the ongoing construction. Within the university’s continuing commitment to advancing health science educational programs are efforts to create unique spaces to support this learning. That includes the recent completion of a third skills-based lab as part of a third phase of construction at the School of Health Sciences. This new lab houses 10 hospital beds, a variety of equipment and six mannequins dedicated to supporting student learning.
Available to all of the school’s students but primarily used by those in the nursing program, these mannequins can mimic cardiac arrest and other conditions. They can speak and have heart, lung and bowel sounds. The mannequins can be used to practice IV insertion, foley catheter insertion, medication administration and assist students in developing a variety of other skills. They provide a “real-life” patient experience within a safe learning environment where mistakes don’t cause injury.
With all of these capabilities, these mannequins essentially become the first patients that Elon nursing students learn to care for. Given that nursing is based on a patient-centered, holistic care model, it seemed only fitting that each of these patients. And so this spring, as sports fans were captivated by the NCAA basketball tournaments, the School of Health Sciences had its own March Madness brackets — nursing style.
Members from each of Elon’s first bachelor of science in nursing cohorts (the classes of 2025, 2026 and 2027) along with the Class of 2024 accelerated bachelor of science in nursing cohort had a chance to submit a name for contention. As names were submitted and voted on, top contenders rose to the top, resulting in a final slate of names and an overall champion.
Now visitors to the School of Health Sciences can stop by to Ryan Guaze-ling (BSN, Class of 2027), Annie T. Omical (BSN, Class of 2026), Ferb (BSN, Class of 2025) and Cathy Ters (ABSN Class of 2024), Gerald and Francis (Staff/Faculty selections). They’ll be happy to say “hello”.
Construction continues in the SHS with the final phase under construction. Watch for information about open houses to tour the space during planning week in August.